“Indian people have a unique, vested interest in the stewardship of natural resources,” explains Professor Tadd Johnson, the American Indian Studies director of Graduate Studies. “In this new program, students will get an overview of the environment from an indigenous perspective so that they can sustain tribal lands and water for future generations.”

The MTRES curriculum is rooted in the interrelationship between biological, physical and cultural systems as well as environmental policy. “Graduates will be able to provide vigilant oversight of land, air and water, while advocating for indigenous rights,” says Johnson. Courses include principles of tribal sovereignty, integrated ecosystems stewardship and tribal natural resource economics.

The program is the culmination of collaboration between UMD’s College of Liberal Arts, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, and the College of Education and Human Service Professions, and three years of consultations with regional tribes. “We vetted the ideas with tribal natural resource managers to see what they need to run their departments,” says Johnson. “MTRES is a program designed by Indian tribes for Indian tribes.”

Johnson says the new program is now accepting up to 20 students for the fall of 2018. More information can be found at www.umdmtres.org.